Grand Opening for Loranger Branch

–St. Tammany Parish officials announced that improvements are underway along Harrison Avenue as part of an ongoing infrastructure initiative. The $1.3 million project will repave Harrison Avenue from LA 59 to I Street, aimed at improving safety and efficiency for drivers, according to Parish President Mike Cooper and the Parish Council. Construction is expected to be completed later this spring. Officials also noted that a future phase of the project will widen Harrison Avenue from U.S. 190 to I Street, with work anticipated to begin in early 2027.

–United Way of Southeast Louisiana has opened its request for proposals for nonprofit partners under a new investment strategy tied to its Bold Goal of placing 100,000 individuals living below the ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) Threshold on a pathway to prosperity by 2035. The ALICE Pathway to Prosperity RFP is the first major funding opportunity aligned with UWSELA’s 2025–2027 Strategic Plan and will support nonprofits serving working households who earn above the federal poverty level but still struggle to afford basic necessities across UWSELA’s seven-parish region of Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa and Washington. Funding will prioritize organizations that provide or partner in case management, collaborate across systems, share data and contribute to a coordinated regional network designed to help families move from crisis to stability and long-term economic mobility, with grants awarded for a 12-month cycle and potential multiyear renewal. Eligible applicants must be 501(c)(3) organizations serving ALICE households and willing to participate in collective impact efforts, shared measurement and coordinated referrals. The application portal opens Monday, Jan. 12, with applications due Friday, Feb. 6, and full RFP details available at UnitedWaySELA.org/ALICERFP, with questions directed to Grants@UnitedWaySELA.org.

–District Attorney Collin Sims announced that Yantrel Tyner, also known as Yantrel McCartney, 25, of Slidell, was sentenced to 25 years in the Louisiana Department of Corrections after pleading guilty to multiple narcotics and obstruction charges stemming from a high-intensity investigation into a fentanyl distribution operation at The Retreat at Fremaux Town Center apartments. The case, prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Iain Dover, was developed through the 22nd Judicial District Court Opioid Initiative and revealed Tyner’s role in selling “blue” fentanyl pills through hand-to-hand transactions, with investigators ultimately recovering more than 400 grams of suspected fentanyl, additional fentanyl pills, Schedule II amphetamines, marijuana, and drug paraphernalia. Authorities said Tyner also obstructed a separate shooting investigation by lying about the location of a rental vehicle used to move evidence. The joint investigation involved the Slidell Police Department Narcotics Division, the 22nd JDC Opioid Initiative, the DEA Fentanyl Overdose Response Team, and Louisiana State Police. Following sentencing, Tyner was remanded to the custody of the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office to begin serving her sentence.

–The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 6 has entered into an administrative compliance order on consent (ACOC) with Smitty’s Supply, Inc. following an inspection of the company’s Roseland, Louisiana, facility under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, identifying multiple hazardous waste management violations. The joint inspection with the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, conducted October 7–9, 2025, focused on areas remaining after an August 22 fire and observed approximately 250 damaged containers, over 200 spills, and more than 300 unlabeled or unidentified containers. The ACOC requires Smitty’s Supply to address violations within 60 days, including inaccurate hazardous waste determinations, improper container management, failure to maintain contingency plans, and mismanagement of universal waste, while the company has begun corrective actions such as labeling and securing containers and characterizing materials. The order also recognizes that work under a prior CERCLA consent order from October 13, 2025, contributes to ACOC compliance. Background emergency response efforts recovered more than 11.7 million gallons of liquid waste, including 8 million gallons from the Tangipahoa River and nearby ponds, and involved extensive community outreach and EPA oversight, with the company assuming responsibility for ongoing cleanup and related costs.

–St. Tammany Parish Public School System officials are seeking stakeholder input on the local portion of the system’s Pupil Progression Plan, which outlines policies for student placement, promotion, retention, and grading. Community members are encouraged to share feedback by contacting their local school principal or submitting comments online at stpsb.org/PupilProgressionPlan, with input accepted through January 23, 2026; the current plan can be viewed at www.stpsb.org, with local policies highlighted in blue. The plan is reviewed annually by a committee of administrators, teachers, and parents, and a public meeting to gather feedback on any proposed changes is scheduled for April 23, 2026, after which the final proposed plan will be presented to the St. Tammany Parish School Board for consideration.

–The St. Tammany Chamber of Commerce has opened applications for its 2026 college scholarship program, which will award three $1,000 scholarships to eligible St. Tammany Parish high school students planning to attend a Louisiana college, university, technical school, or community college. Applications must be submitted online through the St. Tammany Chamber’s website and are due by 3 p.m. on February 27, 2026. The scholarships are funded through the Chamber’s annual Swinging for Scholarships Golf Tournament, scheduled for Thursday, March 19, 2026, and in recent years recipients have represented Fontainebleau, Northshore, Slidell, Mandeville, and Pearl River high schools, with the Chamber encouraging students to apply and support local student success.

–Willard Bridges Road will be closed on Thursday, January 15, for maintenance work, according to Tangipahoa Parish President Robby Miller. The closure will take place approximately 0.18 miles (951 feet) north of the intersection with LA 1049 in Kentwood as crews conduct a cross-drain replacement project. Work is scheduled from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., with detours posted and no through-traffic allowed in the construction zone. Residents are encouraged to check Tangipahoa.org and Tangipahoa Parish Government social media channels for updates on parish road work.

–District Attorney Collin Sims announced that a St. Tammany Parish Grand Jury has indicted two defendants in separate and unrelated violent crime cases stemming from incidents in October 2025, including charges of First Degree Murder and Second Degree Murder, with both cases being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Jay Adair. In one case, Davahn Alec Profit, 21, of Covington, was indicted on a charge of First Degree Murder in connection with the October 22, 2025 killing of a child identified as J.H., born in 2021, a charge eligible under Louisiana law when the victim is under the age of 12. In a separate matter, Donsha Dupre Portis, 17, of Bay Saint Louis, Mississippi, was indicted as an adult on charges of Second Degree Murder for the death of Chancelor Parker and Attempted Second Degree Murder for the attempted killing of a victim identified as G.N., born in 2004, stemming from a violent incident on October 15, 2025. Both defendants are expected to be formally arraigned in the 22nd Judicial District Court, where they will enter pleas, as Sims said the indictments represent a critical step toward justice for the victims and their families.

–The Louisiana Department of Health will hold its first-ever Annual Shareholder Meeting on Wednesday, January 21, at 9 a.m., offering residents a new opportunity to engage directly with state health officials and submit questions in advance. The meeting, which will be live-streamed statewide on the LDH YouTube channel, will feature updates from Medicaid, Behavioral Health, Public Health, and other programs impacting access to healthcare and support services across Louisiana. A dedicated portion of the meeting will address questions submitted by the public, allowing individuals, families, and advocates to raise concerns about mental health services, access to care, Medicaid, and state health priorities without attending in person. Residents can submit questions, register to attend, and view the meeting online, with organizers encouraging broad community participation to ensure public voices are part of the discussion.

–St. Tammany Parish Fire District 11 reports that multiple agencies, including their units and the Pearl River Police Department, responded Tuesday evening to an individual who climbed the water tower near Jubilee Foods in the Village of Guthrie neighborhood. The incident, first reported around 5 p.m., prompted authorities to isolate and turn off the water tower, leaving the Town of Pearl River running on its secondary well. As a precaution, the State of Louisiana has required the town to issue a boil water advisory until further notice. Officials are actively working to communicate with the individual while using all available resources to ensure a safe resolution and have urged the public to avoid the area, including drone operators, to prevent interference with emergency operations, with further updates expected as the situation develops.

–New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno has appointed former NOPD Chief Michael Harrison as Deputy Mayor of Public Safety to oversee a comprehensive 120-day assessment of the city’s security system, replacing former Director of Public Safety and Homeland Security John Thomas. Harrison will lead a team including NOPD, Homeland Security, EMS, and fire department leaders to clarify roles, improve coordination, and evaluate the city’s readiness for manmade or natural incidents. Moreno cited past organizational issues, noting that too much responsibility had fallen on the NOPD, particularly after the New Year’s Day terror attack, and emphasized the need for clear assignments across city departments. Harrison’s initial tasks include planning for Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebrations and upcoming Carnival Season parades while reviewing what resources and personnel are needed to ensure public safety.

–The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office announced that three of its K9s—Bella, Rowdy, and Thor—received donated bullet and stab protective vests through the nonprofit Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. Each vest carries a special inscription: Bella’s reads “Gifted by Southern Podiatry Clinic LLC,” Rowdy’s says “Honoring those who served and sacrificed,” and Thor’s is embroidered “In memory of K9 Vhari—EOW 12/22/20,” providing enhanced protection for the department’s canine officers.

–The Workforce Division at Nunez Community College will offer a free, non-credit Introduction to Construction Technology course taught in Spanish beginning January 20, providing expanded access to workforce training for Spanish-speaking students. Classes will meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:15 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. on the Nunez campus from January 20 through May 12, with no cost to attend. Interested participants can begin the registration process by submitting a course inquiry at Nunez.edu/Workforce, with questions directed to Workforce Director Brian Gibson at bgibson@nunez.edu. Nunez also offers English as a Second Language courses through its Adult Education Division at Nunez.edu/Adult-Education. Student Martha Rico, who participated in the first Spanish-language cohort in summer 2025, said learning in her native language helped her better understand the material and apply it to her family’s remodeling business, encouraging others interested in construction to take advantage of the opportunity.